Religious education at public schools in Eastern France - A tradition between disappearance and revival

Unlike the remainder of the country where separation of church and state is the order of the day, eastern France (Alsace-Moselle) is characterized by a system of recognized cults; priests, pastors and rabbis are remunerated b y the state, mid a confessional religious education is dispensed bl state s chools. The author examines this situation and the evolution of this religi ous education: formerly marked by a significant drop in pupil participation , today there is a noticeable increase in participation in schools where th is education is being reshaped irt the wider context of an education focusi ng on values and citizenship. This development seems to be characteristic o f the reconstruction of church-state relations in a world of ultramodernity .